THE CUBANS Ordinary Lives in Extraordinary Times

Robertson Dean's resonant voice makes for a lively rendering of Anthony DePalma's fascinating cultural history of Cuba and its people. Starting before the Communist Revolution of 1959, when Fidel Castro overthrew the U.S.-supported Batista regime, Dean helps to flesh out Cuba's long history as a Caribbean power: from a Spanish colony relying on African slaves to a nascent republic, a military dictatorship, and finally a Soviet-backed satellite state. Dean's narration turns what could be a dry litany of facts into a riveting tale. But it is in the stories of contemporary Cubans that Dean's narration really shines. Their everyday struggles, triumphs, and tragedies make for a riveting audiobook on par with any sweeping work of fiction. D.G.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2020]